Unisys Australia has won a contract to provide a passenger baggage reconciliation system (BRS) for all Australian international airports, designed to enhance the region's aviation efficiency and security. The contract, which has an anticipated value to Unisys of at least $37 million over five years, was awarded by the airlines operating to and from Australian airports.
Thirty-two international airlines, representing more than 95 per cent of the international passenger traffic in Australia, have already signed up for the BRS service. The system assists the airlines in complying with the Aviation Security Act's 'Triple A' (Account And Authorise) regulations relating to baggage handling, recently mandated by the Federal Department of Transport and Regional Services to improve security at Australian airports.
Unisys will implement and manage the system - including the network infrastructure and security architecture - from its Sydney data centre, provide 24x7 help desk service to the airline community and all training to airline staff and associated airport-handling agents, as well as oversee future development of the BRS system. The system will be in place by the end of 2003.
"The BRS will track and authorise the loading of all passenger and aircrew baggage on scheduled international flights departing Australia or operating between Australian airports," said Richard Froggatt, chairman, Board of Airline Representatives Australia (BARA).
Each bag tag barcode is scanned, reconciled with the passenger record and authorised to load on an aircraft. A record of the cargo hold location of each bag is retained to account for all loaded bags, identify any missing or unknown ones and assist with off loading if required. The system also tracks crew luggage and assists in reuniting mishandled bags with their owners.
"The fundamental benefit of the BRS service is the additional security it provides for passengers and airline businesses without impeding either the passenger or the airlines' business operations," said Andrew Whittaker, general manager transportation, Asia Pacific, Unisys. "In addition, the system increases the efficiency of baggage management and problem resolution."
The BRS service is based on the UltraTrak system developed by UK-based FASL/Ultra, which is working with Unisys on a number of opportunities around the world and is already installed at 30 major airports worldwide.
Unisys will provide the baggage reconciliation system (BRS) as a managed service at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide and Darwin airports.
